Hall’s WWE Smackdown Review 10.23.26

Smackdown
Date: October 23, 2026
Location: Toyota Arena, Ontario, California
Commentators: Michael Cole, Wade Barrett

We’re rapidly approaching Crown Jewel and that means we could be seeing some title changes in the coming weeks. There are regular title defenses plus the Money In The Bank briefcases floating around, which very well could see the title picture shaken up. The rest of the card needs to be set up as well so let’s get to it.

Happy Birthday Wife/Happy wedding day in-laws.

We open with a look back at Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn arguing on Raw. Even Michael Cole says this is a battle for pride.

Here is Zayn, with Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae, to get things going. Zayn acknowledges that there are people who don’t like him but asks who is here to ride or die with him. There is this misconception that the alpha male is the biggest and strongest but the reality is that it’s the smart one who survives. He isn’t going to take this from anyone, including Penta, which brings Rey Fenix to interrupt.

Fenix says he isn’t sure what Penta is going to do. He and Zayn are still family but if Zayn disrespects his family, they have a problem. Zayn says there’s no problem between them, but rather with people who disrespect him. Cue Trick Williams, who says he doesn’t feel any threat from Zayn. He’s only been here ten months and look how far he’s come. Zayn has been here for twenty five years and still trying to convince people he’s the king of the jungle.

Williams says that Zayn is Timon and he’s Simba and a real champion. Williams wants a title shot, but Zayn says he could use his sharp tongue to destroy Williams. That won’t be happening though, because Zayn is a good guy. Sooner or later, the people will realize that Williams doesn’t have IT. Therefore, no title match. Williams demands the shot instead and threatens to beat it out of him, which has Zayn getting in a cheap shot and running. Nick Aldis comes out to make Williams/Fenix vs. Zayn/Gargano tonight. Good stuff here, as we’re getting a bunch of people lining up to come after a beatable champion.

Women’s Title: Roxanne Perez vs. Chelsea Green

Green is defending. Perez ties her up in la majistral for an early two so Green gets in her own rollup for two more. Something like a Zig Zag gives Green two more and a running dropkick sends Perez outside. Green gets in a suicide dive but Perez dropkicks the leg out and sends her into the post. The arm gets stomped into the turnbuckle rod and we take a break.

We come back with Green hitting a superplex and they’re both down. Green is up with some running knees in the ropes but the Unprettier is reversed into a small package to give Perez two. Green goes up again but here is Raquel Rodriguez to shove her off, allowing Perez to get in a running knee. Cue Iyo Sky to cut off Rodriguez, only to have Perez send Sky into the steps. Back in and Green hits a superkick into the Unpretty-Her to retain at 9:23.

Rating: C+. They’re playing up the idea that the title could change hands before Crown Jewel and that’s an interesting way to go. Unfortunately the problem is these issues basically go away as soon as the show takes place as everyone (in theory) goes back to their own show and moves on. Anything involving Green being around is a good thing though and it’s nice to see her beat someone like Perez.

Post match Liv Morgan runs in for the beatdown, with Rodriguez joining in. Sky tries to make the save but the numbers game is too strong. Tiffany Stratton runs in for the real save. Stratton tries to cash in but Judgment Day gets Morgan out of the ring before it’s official.

We look at Cody Rhodes Punting Baron Corbin last week (with the Punt being shown in the replay on Netflix after not being shown on the same platform last week).

Corbin is out of action for the time being.

Chelsea Green, Iyo Sky and Tiffany Stratton celebrate together. Apparently it’s martini time.

Giulia vs. Blake Monroe

Street fight. Giulia jumps her on the floor for the opening bell but can’t send her into a pile of chairs. Monroe gets in some kendo stick shots to take over but gets crotched on the barricade. That means Giulia can dropkick her over the barricade and now Monroe is sent through the chairs. We take a break and come back with Giulia in control as they fight to the stage.

The brawl goes through the Gorilla Position and into the back, where Monroe sprays hairspray in Giulia’s eyes. We pause for Monroe to look in a mirror though, with Giulia sending her into said mirror. Giulia beats her back through the aisle and into the ring, where a missile dropkick connects. A fire extinguisher blinds Giulia though and Monroe hits a superplex from the steps onto the chairs on the floor. Back in and a Neutralizer finishes Giulia at 10:54.

Rating: B-. I liked the tower of chairs, as it fits in with the Beautiful Madness thing. They didn’t really go far enough with the broken mirror thing, as you would think that would be a bigger deal. At least Monroe got what is supposed to be a big win but my goodness I have no idea what is happening to Giulia. This is the best they have for her?

Here is Randy Orton for a chat and yeah the fans like him. Orton brings up Cody Rhodes and the fans don’t seem as thrilled. He’s proud of Rhodes, dubbed “Kid”, for kicking someone in the head, because Orton is the only one to make Rhodes crack. Rhodes can kick anyone in the head but it doesn’t matter until he does it to Orton himself. Orton is the one who has done that to people for years around here but he knows that Rhodes won’t be able to pull the trigger again.

Cue Rhodes so Nick Aldis and the agents are immediately here on standby. Rhodes wants to know when Orton became a coward because he remembers Orton as the Apex Predator and the Legend Killer. The reality is that Orton is an anomaly from his OVW class as he’s the last one standing. Well Rhodes is the anomaly to Orton because he’s not scared of Orton anytime. So why are they waiting for?

The fight is teased but Aldis calls it off and makes the match at Crown Jewel. That works for Rhodes, but he wants it to be Last Man Standing. Orton is in too, but Rhodes asked for this. There’s your non-title main event and it feels big, though either have Rhodes kick him in the head or move on already.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Alexa Bliss/Tatum Paxley vs. Michin/B-Fab

Michin/B-Fab, with Jade Cargill, are challenging. Bliss and B-Fab start things off with the former taking over with some right hands. The sliding lariat gives B-Fab two so Bliss dropkicks her into the corner so Paxley can come in. Paxley is sent outside and scores with an enziguri from the floor before low bridging Michin to the floor as well.

We take a break and come back with Paxley hitting a step-up enziguri so Bliss can get the tag. The running Blockbuster looks to set up Sister Abigail so B-Fab grabs the hair for the break. Bliss high crossbodies B-Fab and it’s back to Paxley, who misses a 450 to Michin. Cargill gets in a cheap shot and Michin’s Styles Clash finishes Paxley for the titles at 7:57.

Rating: C+. They’re certainly rolling with the women’s matches tonight. I’m not wild on the title change as they’ve been moving around a lot lately and B-Fab and Michin are hardly a great team. I guess the theory is to keep up the idea that any title can change hands at any time, but this only felt so important.

Trick Williams is thrilled because he’s getting a World Title shot next week. Rey Fenix comes in to say they need to get ready, with Damian Priest coming in to sneer.

Danhausen is hosting next week’s Very Nice Very Evil Halloween special.

Tag Team Titles: MFTs vs. Bakusi

The MFTs, with Haku, are defending but Kyoki sneaks in from behind to steal Haku’s staff. Haku sends them after the stick and the big brawl is on in the aisle. Agents and referees break it up and there’s no match.

Earlier today, Nick Aldis sat down with CM Punk and Kevin Owens. Aldis announces a match between them in two weeks in Brooklyn. Punk blames Owens for losing the title, with Owens saying Punk cost Owens the title in Toronto. Owens brings up something that happened in a locker room twenty years ago and thought they were done after Money In The Bank. Punk says Owens will be a thorn in his side until Punk puts him down. They argue over each other and Aldis thinks that’s enough, with Punk calling Owens a piece of garbage as he leaves. They only had so much to talk about here but it was entertaining.

Sami Zayn/Johnny Gargano vs. Trick Williams/Rey Fenix

Candice LeRae is here with Zayn and Gargano. Williams and Zayn start things off but nah we’ll go with Gargano instead. Williams powers him around without much trouble so it’s off to Zayn. Hang on though as here is Ricky Saints to jump Fenix and it’s a DQ at about 1:20.

Post match the big beatdown stays on but Penta runs in for the save and let’s do that six man thing.

Sami Zayn/Johnny Gargano/Ricky Saints vs. Trick Williams/Lucha Bros

The Bros hit a big double running flip dive and we take a break before the bell. We’re joined in progress with Fenix elbowing Zayn out of the corner but Zayn powerbombs him down for a quick two. A Helluva Kick knocks the illegal Williams off the apron and it’s off to Gargano, who is kicked in the face. Penta comes in for a backbreaker to Gargano and some kicks to his partners.

The slingshot dropkick in the corner gets two on Gargano and Fenix dives onto Saints. The Penta Driver hits Gargano for two but the Mexican Destroyer is cut off with a superkick. It’s back to Williams to clean house but Saints cuts him off with a quick Revolution for two. Gargano poisonranas Fenix, only to get caught with Penta’s Mexican Destroyer. Williams cuts off the Helluva Kick and the Trick Shot hits Zayn, followed by a Bookend to pin Saints at 4:45 shown.

Rating: B-. They didn’t have much time here but the fans are way into Penta and it’s fun to see what he can do every time he’s out there. I can’t imagine Williams having any serious chance to win the title next week but this was as good of a build as he could have gotten. Zayn has everyone coming after him right now and he’s a vulnerable champion, making the pressure that much better. Good, fast paced main event here.

Zayn knows he’s in trouble to end the show.

 

Results
Chelsea Green b. Roxanne Perez – Unpretty-Her
Blake Monroe b. Giulia – Neutralizer
B-Fab/Michin b. Tatum Paxley/Alexa Bliss – Styles Clash to Paxley
Rey Fenix/Trick Williams b. Johnny Gargano/Sami Zayn via DQ when Ricky Saints interfered
Trick Williams/Lucha Bros b. Johnny Gargano/Sami Zayn/Ricky Saints – Bookend to Saints

 

 

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7.5

The final score: review Good

The 411

This was kind of a chaotic night but they did so many things that it never got boring. The action was mostly good, with the main event not lasting long but being fun while it was around. Crown Jewel is still a very hard sell and the idea seems to be keeping the ball moving so much that it’s hard to realize that on the way there. Solid show this week and a good preview for things to come.